Editor:
We have rented our family cabin as a short term rental for over 15 years. The new legislation is already having a huge negative impact. We have had to cancel a large number of returning families who are now looking to go elsewhere as they are not interested in hotel or motel options. This is a huge loss for the Sechelt community, and in our case does nothing to improve the long-term housing situation. Our cabin will remain a family cabin.
It is not a long-term rental option.
What the article did not address is that while we could have renewed our licence from January to May, but since the cost is not prorated we could not possibly cover the cost of this licence in the four months of our low season. Further, we employed a number of local individuals and were a customer of many other local businesses. Close to 80 per cent of our rental income went directly back into the community. This was over and above the money brought into the community from tourist spending.
This legislation which severely impacts our local economy without really providing the solution it was enacted for. Sechelt hasn’t yet seen the full impact of the loss of cottage rentals.
Sandy Evans and Bill Gordon, Calgary / Tuwanek
